Ori's eyes fluttered open and her tired gaze fell on a silver head. It was rested over his pretty hands with long and slender fingers adorned by glistening rings. His silver locks curtained his face from her view, but Ori could spot long dark lashes and a pointy nose breathing elegantly.
112Please respect copyright.PENANALLG5bBLTMa
After the awe of his beauty diminished a bit, Ori realised the familiar surroundings of the room.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAGdc1NZsHyZ
The carved four-poster bed and cloudy mattresses that she was resting on, the velvet couch directly in her line of sight and the darkness of the room combated by one open window.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAkN0gSOfw41
The window she had used to sneak inside the Duke's bedchamber.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA3ct6G5WQ5Z
She was on the Duke's bed?!
112Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q82n6NzTI
In the Duke's bedchamber?!
112Please respect copyright.PENANAapLyrZSrRC
Her blue eyes widened as reality cut to chase the fantasy of his ethereal beauty away.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAfzX9gb7AiX
The chirping birds outside, the gleaming sunlight escaping into the room and glaring on his handsome face, made Ori's hands and feet go clammy.
112Please respect copyright.PENANArO3oCWRxpX
She picked up one of the many pillows occupying the bedrest and placed it infront of the Duke's face, to stop the sunrays from hitting his eyes directly, before crawling out of the bed.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAPeqJy3M81l
"Ah, you're awake."
112Please respect copyright.PENANAEBlWCuaNMX
A deep and husky voice caught her off guard. Her feet, which were about to hit the ground, retracted back up into the bed. Ori turned around to face him with wide blue eyes and a choked breath.
112Please respect copyright.PENANABfgBqKZxJX
Why was she here of all places?!
112Please respect copyright.PENANAFQGlXRcrJQ
Her heart skipped a beat as he carded his bejeweled hand through his silky locks and looked down at her with his dashing face, mentally attacking her so early in the morning.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAMV0dEg7k2j
His tired amythest eyes glared at her stance, full lips curved into an upside down smile. He exuded a menacing aura and, in fear, Ori couldn't help but throw out her hands and wiggle them.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAL6LoSVSbl0
"This is a dream!" She waved her hands, "You are asleep!" She looked at her nose and poked her tongue out. Her voice was low and whispy. "Nothing is real!" She finished, slowly backing away in as she set one foot on the ground. "I am a part of your imagination," she whispered, standing up— only for her legs to give in.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAbbLim3GHoE
Though, before her butt could hit the floor, she found herself wrapped securely in his sturdy arms and was thrown over the bed again. His dead eyes bore into her in the most unamused manner possible.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAGCCFD2pB0L
"You were hurt, quite a lot. You have been asleep for two days," Duke Sirius informed, folding his hands against his chest as he stood against the edge of his bed.
112Please respect copyright.PENANADogvqb4Mbt
Ori's big eyes widened excitedly. Her mind was quick to connect the dots.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAvaa6qE6vbf
"So was Duke the one riding the carriage? Did you see me fight? Were you very impressed? Did you take me in to make me a Knight?" Ori clapped tiny claps with her fingers as she inched closer to him with every word.
112Please respect copyright.PENANABBv7IjtLzI
"Yes, I was the one riding the carriage. Yes, I saw you fight. It was the most amateurish stroke of luck one could possess. You'd be a lost cause in the name of Knightdom so, I'd rather you drop that thought for a loooong while," Sirius drawled, eyes moving pointedly over Ori's body as if making her realise something.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA7B0nXmj2tJ
Confused and quite offended, Ori looked down at herself to spot a few glaring problems.
112Please respect copyright.PENANApdR0Gn7iM4
Her knitted dress was gone and replaced with a soft, silky navy robe that clung to her lanky figure. She swiftly rolled up her sleeves and pajamas to find bandaged hands and feet. Blood rushed to her face as she pressed her hands against her chest and looked up to glare him in the eye.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAZosuojexAw
"Mister Duke! I expected better of you than to violate me like this!" She cried out, small chin jutting out and nostrils flared with emotion.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAGts9DdgoWd
Sirius exhaled a breath before tilting his head, "I apologise, but it was Albert—"
112Please respect copyright.PENANA9LBWUNM1EF
"HOLY BREAD AND DAIRY! YOU MADE ALBERT THE OLD SLUG CHANGE MY CLOTHES?!"
112Please respect copyright.PENANAFa0DVsjuOX
"—who curated female attendents to serve you. It was a gesture of gratitude on my part," The Duke exhaled as blood rushed to Ori's face and doused her crimson with embarrassment.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAv3DcSd31aZ
"I-I, uh, I am sorry. I apologise. I should not have made my own conclusions," Ori coughed, shifting back in the centre of the bed and sitting like an obidient child.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZlyL96ZWC
"Yes, you shouldn't have."
112Please respect copyright.PENANAkJpRpD9sRK
The Duke nodded and so did Ori.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAui4KeoVQNc
An awkward energy emanated through the air as they both existed in the plane of existence, leaving words unsaid.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAmf6vp55kK7
That was, until, Ori remembered bigger problems.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAg0o3Mrd0Ot
"W-what of my stuff? The mats and the-the logs and—"
112Please respect copyright.PENANA1R3xcexBKi
"Don't worry about it. I had the guards send the damaged goods to be mended and the good ones are right there," Sirius inched his chin towards a small wooden box placed in front of the bedside table. It's exterior was carved with ornate handiwork — a little too precious to be storing mere knitted mats and rugs.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA7kKWL0zXe9
"Oh- then- No! My parents! They would be so worried!"
112Please respect copyright.PENANAXiMpomUfld
"I had them reinstated on land and gave them newly registered identities. Your mother is now Lady Soreen Gregory and your father is now Lord Kamil Gregory. They live in the Ender Towne as nouveau riche textile merchants. Talking of your father, I have scheduled appointments with Evermire's best healers regarding his condition. Don't you worry, he will be pristine in no time."
112Please respect copyright.PENANA05vRZDQYPA
Duke Sirius declared as casually as mentioning weather whilst having a spot of tea. Ori could see his shoulders physically raise up to the sky with all the pride his silent face exuded.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA1agLWAyQE9
In a moment, he had spun Ori's bleak future into a paragraph of unemotional words, not knowing how deeply it impacted any and all of the future decisions she would make.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAikgETt3MkX
Indeed, the practice of buying fake Class identities was a decade long practice but it was awfully hard to grab such an opportunity! They were as expensive as costing an arm and a leg just to get authorisation into a new class! Then there was fake backgrounds to create, fake family histories to maintain, fake households to buy—
112Please respect copyright.PENANAydi12AAHbM
Ori's hand slapped against her mouth — as all the numbers added up to a malfunctioned limit inside her head — lest she'd be gasping for air for the rest of her life. Tears overwhelmed her eyes and pooled out of its boundaries, claiming free real estate on her cheeks. Her parents would be living a comfortable life?
112Please respect copyright.PENANAJbD5SCeeqR
It felt unreal. It must be unreal.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAxuvDSVEa8t
"B-but," her voice broke, rasped and choked, "How do I trust you?" Her eyes searched for any tells of a sick-joke in his stance. His hands behind his back, his squared shoulders or his eyes that looked back into her with absolute confidence.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA6cGVFAQ6Uq
It was criminal to look that good and be honest at the same time.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAEup3DqJsJi
Surely, like all rich folks, he must be lying.
112Please respect copyright.PENANADLluZSUEKg
"I had you followed, the last you visited me. It wasn't hard to find your little dungeon of secrets, for there aren't many to begin with. We can now call our favours equal now—"
112Please respect copyright.PENANAFevKkv5aeg
"The sword," Ori cut in, wiping her tears on her bandaged arms, much to Duke Sirius' horror. He was quick to fetch a handkerchief out of his pocket and lend it to her. Ori took it with a grateful nod and blew her nose in it.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAfK1uhpVBoD
"Do continue," Sirius urged calmly.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA13WDy97kpr
"Yes," Ori coughed, her nose and throat felt much lighter now. It was time she clarified why the sword of a mere carriage driver felt like Arthur's magical weapon in her hand. "I believe you know magic? Considering Duke was travelling in a horseless carriage; but you did not come out. But you were helping me from the inside, weren't you?"
112Please respect copyright.PENANADfKvnCTxk5
Sirius raised an amused brow, his cold face betraying hints of being impressed by her observation.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA6XYta28dIf
"It's a personal matter, but I can let you know, if you promise to answer a question of mine. With all honesty." The Duke proposed, eyes fixated in a glaring attack on the handkerchief that Ori had left on his bed, after blowing her nose in it.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAVDUMUGFKXd
"Sounds omnious, but fire away," the brunette shrugged. Her teeth gritted against eachother, awaiting the impending question. Her eyes followed the Duke's line of sight and landed on the silk handkerchief.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA7FOKFRp22p
Ori pursed her lips together, muttering sheepish apologises, as she flicked the dirty handkerchief to the ground.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAzEfN9kqlJF
The Duke dusted a spot on his bed and sat on it with the elegance of a King. Ori's sucked in a long breath, upon having him so close to her. All of this felt like an elaborate dream. Only when she earns a hit from mother-supreme would she be able to decipher fantasy from reality.
112Please respect copyright.PENANArvhX3NO309
"Why do you want to be a Knight? Was it to earn money because it is the highest post a commoner can attain?" His back faced the open window, his face faced Ori. His eyes searched for any signs of discomfort or dishonesty.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA9Q32PFb9i1
But, the brunette's lips merely broke into a gummy smile with blue eyes sparkling so bright, any aristrocart might think she was advertising for belladonna eyedrops.
112Please respect copyright.PENANABiuYcmiiFJ
"Why of course, I want to be a Knight because it is my dream! Yes, our family has always been in desperate need of money but that is not why I wanted to be a Knight. I want to become as gallant as my father and using a sword is the only way I can be truly free. It's beautiful and I love it!" Her words were laced with a dreamy tone, her hands wandered around, gesticulating her excitement.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAUZWHZm7Wyl
She was like a woman possessed when it came to Knightdom.
112Please respect copyright.PENANApPK5KDrqCo
It was kind of odd, as Sirius' dark brows met in a frown. He had only considered her to be a passionate person and a stubborn, poor woman who wanted to make it big in life. He had, not for one moment, considered the fact that being a Knight could be someone's genuine dream.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA6YEtNaIKwC
Why would anyone want to be a Knight out of mere wish and not money?
112Please respect copyright.PENANA0nIGY2sng3
Why would they want to protect this godforsaken empire by staking their lives on the line?
112Please respect copyright.PENANALN67C4xdHc
Surely, their heads were demented.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAALqeHnt9Oq
"Why...?" Was all Sirius could manage. The situation was too incomprehensible for him to make sense. "What good has the Nobelai Empire done for you? Just two days ago, you were living in a dungeon under the ground!" His tone raised involuntarily, out of choice and no reason, he got up and started pacing around his room.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAoKkiZDXNE1
"Just because," Ori shrugged, curling herself in a foetal position. "I don't want to be a Knight for the Empire. I want to be a Knight for myself," Ori mumbled, knowing it was blasphemy of the highest order that she just committed.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAWf0PWxPwut
Even to think ill about the Empire would get your head chopped off, let alone to be putting yourself over service to the Empire. Ori was, indeed, a genuinely selfish person.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAzbOxpzzO8i
Yet, somehow, she wasn't scared to be honest in front of the Duke.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAx7frkOY8IE
His pacing footsteps came to a halt. Ori pressed her eyes close. His feet brought him in front of the bed again. Ori's nails dug into her skin. His breath felt awfully close to her face. Goosebumps rose all over Ori's body.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAJVlZl2ZOOc
"I can make you a Knight."
112Please respect copyright.PENANAFE6unHnHO1
His tone was low, deep and omnious, but it did not stop the jerk with which Ori opened her eyes and raised her head.
112Please respect copyright.PENANABTzJ1wxFNV
Inches away from his. They were almost breathing over eachother's faces.
112Please respect copyright.PENANA9M3VqJIgIG
"Do you need something in return?"
112Please respect copyright.PENANAzFbMOtcryO
Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her curious, innocent and subtly excited face against his cold lips, blown pupils and subtly smirking lips.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAdqFm6QfxRg
"I need something significant in return. I need your life."
112Please respect copyright.PENANAzZm92SBYlX
Her breath hitched. Silence reigned. Even the birds did not chirp anymore.
112Please respect copyright.PENANABRtjFEyoLn
"What good would my blood look on your hands?"
112Please respect copyright.PENANAfvhwASWlpo
A deep laugh reverberated in his throat.
112Please respect copyright.PENANAgPX7EVjjjy
"Oh it will look, quite, quite magnificent."
ns 172.70.127.129da2